Bit of a surprisingly slow Wednesday thus far, but there's still some topics of conversation after the jump.

The Cuts

Carter Bancks – LW

Laurent Brossoit – G

Paul Byron - C

Mark Cundari - D

David Eddy - RW

Turner Elson - LW

Ben Hanowski - LW

Braden Lamb – D

James Martin - D

Zach McKelvie – D

Greg Nemisz - RW

Brett Olson – C

Joni Ortio - G

Returning to their respective junior teams:

Ryan Culkin – D (Quebec/WHL)

Coda Gordon – RW (Swift Current/WHL)

Morgan Klimchuk – LW (Regina/WHL)

Brett Kulak – D (Vancouver/WHL)

Emile Poirier – RW (Gatineau/QMJHL)

Eric Roy – D (Brandon/WHL)

I'm a little surprised about Ortio going down this quickly but I can see why they did it. I'm pretty sure Monahan is the only junior-aged forward left in camp now as the CHL season starts to ramp up. Poirier performed pretty well, so I don't think the cut is indicitave of anything except for his team needing him back and the determination of HOPS that he wasn't making it this year.

Hanowski sucks, which is why he's been snipped. Of the guys left at camp, Reinhart, Kanzig, Ferland, Granlund and Jooris are probably safe bets to be cut next. It seems to me the Flames are still trying to fill out two practice rosters, which is why some of these guys have been kept around.

Preseason thus Far

The Flames have played 5 games and are currently 3-2, with split-squad wins against the Isles (twice) and Oilers. They're currently +2 in goal differential and no one has had a major injury (yet). Although they've struggled at times, the Flames still look like an NHL team out there.

The players that have impressed me the most thus far (i.e., played beyond my expectations) are Josh Jooris, Emile Poirier and Reto Berra. I don't think there's a real possibility that Poirier or Berra make the team simply because of the roster numbers - but Jooris could with the lack of a 4C right now. Do I think that to be the best result? Probably not, but good for him regardless.

I've actually been intrigued by the fact that three of the oddest moves Jay Feaster made in the past year or so have shown the early returns they have. I don't feel any different than I did prior to camp about the moves themselves, but still.

Looking at the Lines

In my estimation, the Flames have enough NHL-level talent up front that they shouldn't need any bottom-end players to fill out the roster, but let's take a look quickly.

Mike Cammalleri - Matt Stajan - Curtis Glencross

Jiri Hudler - Mikael Backlund - Lee Stempniak

David Jones - T.J. Galiardi

Those 8 players are likely guaranteed to make the team. You'd have to think Baertschi, McGrattan and Jackman stay up, though, so really that only leaves one or two extra spots up front. In terms of players who are and might be available, there isn't much. Damien Brunner, Brad Boyes and Mason Raymond are the three names that jump out to me as being better than those three, but all of them are in other camps right now on PTOs. If they get cut, the Flames should take a run at them but I find it hard to see any of them getting snipped.

The only names that really intrigued me on this list other than the three above are Dave Steckel and Simon Gagne. Certainly, Steckel's not a fantastic player by any means but he can win face offs and the Flames will need another centreman if the front office determines none of the prospects at camp can fill out the 4C position. Personally, I think I'd rather have Steckel than Corbin Knight right now.

Gagne has had some injury troubles and is a solid bet to miss about 25% of the season each year but he is still producing shots at a good rate (2 SPG last year) even though his TOI was only about 14:30 per night. His SH% was pretty damn low last year too, so maybe he has a bit of a bounce back in terms of percentages. I feel as though he's better than anyone the Flames want to put in there at the 3W position except for Baertschi.

There's a pretty solid stable of mid- to bottom-tier defenseman on the Flames, so signing another guy to add to the 8-man 2-spot logjam doesn't make much sense to me. On top of that, aside from one guy (who we'll get to in a minute), there's nothing of note on the free agent market. Thus, if the Flames are going to make a contract worthwhile, it'll have to be on a guy who will play top-4 minutes.

Dennis Wideman - Mark Giordano

T.J. Brodie - Kris Russell

Shane O'Brien - Chris Butler

There's room for one more guy here. More than likely, it'll be Derek Smith - he's on a one-way contract and has played in about half of the games Calgary's had since he got here two years ago. However, if it's not Derek Smith or one of the youngins (Mark Cundari is my pick), Tom Gilbert is the only name out there that makes any sense at all. He's at Panthers camp, though, so he'll likely play top-4 minutes in Sunrise this year.

Karri Ramo

Joey MacDonald

There's just no more room for any PTO washouts or free agents here. The Flames have three goaltenders who they likely think are NHL-calibre and they can't have Joni Ortio and Laurent Brossoit splitting time in Alaska.

There never really seems to be training camp battles that really mean anything. What you see above is a roster that's about 95% done and there's only room for 2 or 3 more guys. The issue for the Flames is high-end talent, and that's just not found at this point.

Fighting in the Preseason

I think it's absurd how many times the gloves have been dropped so far. It doesn't really make sense why people are fighting at this point, and it's made even more odd by who is fighting. McGrattan and Jackman are expected to fight, sure, but they should know their spots on the roster are pretty much chiselled in stone. Matt Stajan is fighting for some reason, marking the first time in history that a team's number one centre has bloodied his opponent in preseason fisticuffs. (Man, that was an absurd sentence.) Lastly, Pat Sieloff broke his damn cheekbone getting punched in the face, which helped literally no one accomplish anything significant except break another person's cheekbone.

Don't fight, kids.

Justin is a 23-year-old Flames fan who also happens to be pursuing a double major at the University of Calgary. He has played hockey at high levels, enjoys wearing shorts and tends to drink far too much Grasshopper. Please don't hate him.

Steckel's on a PTO with the Minnesota Wild. Gagne has had what, 4 concussions? He was done long ago in Philly.

I'm thinking that Bouma stays up and probably Corban Knight. Feaster has to show that trading for "the best NCAA player not in the NHL" was actually a good move.

I too despise fighting in the preseason. The only players who do that are the ones who aren't skilled enough to make the roster. They're proving a point. I hate it because it means these bubble a$$holes beat on or make dangerous plays that hurt the skilled players, all in the name of "making a name for themselves". Eff that.

the Sieloff fight - blows my mind. I guess he is trying to show he's got the grit... bu now - he's got an extended stay on the sidelines.

Stupid.

Now i don't mind McGrataon pummeling people... it does seem to warm my heart a little,
however I do wish, with all the fights, someone woulda figured, "Hey we are fighting anyway, why not smack Nurse around in Edmonton." now that would have made a lot of sense.

I liked the message stajan's fight set, the others, I think I am fine with, bad luck for Sieloff on the injury, hind sight should nto have fought, but isnt that his game getting under the opponents skin?

I still think gagne can play a bottom-6 role effectively. I hadn't heard about steckel but its hard to find all the pto's given out haha.

knight and bouma would be my choices too. maybe horak, but that's only going to happen once someone gets hurt.

Just don't see any point in any UFA's right now. They will cost $$$ & will accomplish nothing, I'd rather see some of our fringe young players who has potential given that spot in the lineup. I have no problem watching Reinhart, Bouma, Knight, Sven, or Horak over any available UFA out there. Injuries are going to happen, so we will get to see these players anyway, but lets just start one them instead. If we need to spend $$$ to reach the Cap Floor, lets take a salary dump for a decent prospect or 2nd.

Steckel's on a PTO with the Minnesota Wild. Gagne has had what, 4 concussions? He was done long ago in Philly.

I'm thinking that Bouma stays up and probably Corban Knight. Feaster has to show that trading for "the best NCAA player not in the NHL" was actually a good move.

I too despise fighting in the preseason. The only players who do that are the ones who aren't skilled enough to make the roster. They're proving a point. I hate it because it means these bubble a$$holes beat on or make dangerous plays that hurt the skilled players, all in the name of "making a name for themselves". Eff that.

I think Gagne could be a decent bet to play well enough that he may have value to a PO team at the deadline. Also, with the expected injuries, it'll allow for call ups and NHL time for some of the bubble kids.

Just don't see any point in any UFA's right now. They will cost $$$ & will accomplish nothing, I'd rather see some of our fringe young players who has potential given that spot in the lineup. I have no problem watching Reinhart, Bouma, Knight, Sven, or Horak over any available UFA out there. Injuries are going to happen, so we will get to see these players anyway, but lets just start one them instead. If we need to spend $$$ to reach the Cap Floor, lets take a salary dump for a decent prospect or 2nd.

I agree with this. However I do have interest in seeing young players not having waiver freedom being picked up. A guy lime Thkmas Hickey was picked up by the Islanders last year this way. No cost for a young guy with potential that was caught in a #'s game.

I liked the message stajan's fight set, the others, I think I am fine with, bad luck for Sieloff on the injury, hind sight should nto have fought, but isnt that his game getting under the opponents skin?

It is, but you can get under the opponents' skin without fighting (it might even be more effective at pissing them off that way).

Re: the fighting. Guys are trying to make an impression and are under intense pressure. Anything they can do to prove they are ready willing and able to do whatever. Theyall, no doubt, understand the Inherent dangers of their actions going I to a game. But to make the NHL its a risk most would be willing to take. To me, the fighting makes more sense at this time for he younger kids or bubble guys. Stajans fight was an act of leadership and team solidarity; the "I've got your back" mentality.

Yeah, I think the team goes with Knight & Bouma for the open forward spots with the only question being where Knight plays 3C or 4C (my preference would be 3C initially with Galiardi taking 4C). Smith gets the #7D spot.

Azevedo et al. are right, Gagne would be a decent bottom-6 option. I'm just not sure he would want to come to Calgary, given that his agent was reaching out to the Canadiens and possibly Philly already. I guess he's already won a Cup so maybe he just wants to play / earn money at this point and will take anyone.

Give him 1 or 2 years, around $2M per and I'd be okay with that.

Interestingly enough, he got one of his big concussions from a Jay Bouwmeester check to the jaw. Which surprises me because I don't remember JBo ever hitting anyone.

Somewhat related, this quote from Torts reminded me of the Flames prior to the last couple of seasons:

* Tortorella admitted he's concerned that because of the Canucks' age -- eight players expected to be in the opening-night lineup are 30 or older -- there aren't enough NHL-ready or near NHL-ready prospects in the organization.

"It's a concern of mine," Tortorella said. "You need to keep on infusing young kids into the lineup because as older players start to get a little bit older and you don't develop the kids with them, all of a sudden you have an old team with no kids and that's when you start spinning your wheels. We're talking about a mindset change, about playing harder and more aggressive. I think kids bring you that."

Hunter Shinkaruk is the next Bertuzzi because he scored one goal short side, where the rookie AHL goalie should have been covering the post anyway.... Lol. Still baffled that goal got so much hype the goaltender made a glairing error and got stuck trying to get back into position, an NHL Goaltender doesn't let that goal in period. Poirier buries a zero hesitation release backdoor the same day and no one is talking about it. Bertuzzi is/was a power forward Shinkaruk is an undersized skilled guy. If anyone is becoming a first line power winger its Poirier!!

Azevedo et al. are right, Gagne would be a decent bottom-6 option. I'm just not sure he would want to come to Calgary, given that his agent was reaching out to the Canadiens and possibly Philly already. I guess he's already won a Cup so maybe he just wants to play / earn money at this point and will take anyone.

Give him 1 or 2 years, around $2M per and I'd be okay with that.

Interestingly enough, he got one of his big concussions from a Jay Bouwmeester check to the jaw. Which surprises me because I don't remember JBo ever hitting anyone.

Actually glad they cut Emile Poirier Gatineau is going to be great this year where he can light it up. I think if Gatineau wasn't dominating the QMJHL as we speak he gets a longer stay. The Flames absolutely love Kanzig!!! Clearly the Flames didn't care to choose AHL/NHL experience over camp performance. Ramage, Wotherspoon, Ferland, Granlund make it over Cundari, Hanowski, etc

Surprised that Cundari and Hanowski were sent down already. I also thought that they might give Poirer more time up but glad that he's heading down. I'm excited by the good showing that he had in camp.

Can't believe that Kanzig is still in camp. I know that the coach wanted to keep enough guys to fill out two practice teams but super surprised that he stays up over Cundari. Looks like maybe Billins is also sticking around for a while..

Surprised Cundari was cut - but I think it may be more that they already have a good idea of what they have with Cundari and Hanowski etc. not so much that they're necessarily behind Kanzig et al on the depth chart.

I'm surprised Berra is still around. I, for one, was not impressed with his showing the other night. Appears the Flames want to give him every chance to make the team.

Ditto for Kanzig. He's a big dude, and isn't quite the Coke machine everyone thought he was, but is he really going to make the NHL this season? Especially over someone like Chad Billins or Mark Cundari? Seems odd.

Berra had a mediocre game I’ll admit, but he was lights out at the World Championships. Body of work outside of an exhibition game gets him a longer look in my opinion than one game. Maybe its just me but I'm not cutting "The best goaltender not in the NHL" by most Europeans scouts after one exhibition game.

I'm a bit disappointed that Poirier went down so early as he he has played reasonably well; hopefully the message to him was go and play in the Q, dominate and make the WJC team. If he goes and does that he will be ready.

Kanzig is still here because they want to work with him a bit longer, not because he will be here.

Sending Canduri down demonstrates the depth at D, he will be called up at some time. Honkowski should have been given another few days as he has improved since last year. Most of the rest who were sent down will play a lot in AHL and will not be much of an impact with this club.

I'm surprised Berra is still around. I, for one, was not impressed with his showing the other night. Appears the Flames want to give him every chance to make the team.

Ditto for Kanzig. He's a big dude, and isn't quite the Coke machine everyone thought he was, but is he really going to make the NHL this season? Especially over someone like Chad Billins or Mark Cundari? Seems odd.

I think some of the guys they keep up are the guys they want to give specific pointers to on what they want them to work on. Hence Kanzig. I doubt the Flames are under any illusions that if he plays regular season games he'll end up being a dynamo at this point.

It also doesn't mean they can't call Billins or Cundari up after camp. I really wouldn't mind seeing Billins get a few games at the start of the season - from what I saw last night, the only word that comes to mind is 'poise".

He was sent down cause, as well as Hanowski and even Porier, because management already knows what they have there and they dont really have a chance to move higher up the depth charts with the amount of established top 9 wingers and bottom pairing dmen on the team.

They wont be on the opening night roster, without injuries, so send em down and they will be amoung the first recalls (not Porier obviously).

We have alot of new players so giving them a longer look is a good move. Thats why players like Billins and Kanzig werent cut and Cundari was.

Most other players have earned it however as Jooris, Monahan, Wotherspoon, Ramage, Horak, Bouma, Granlund, Ferland and Sven all deserve to still be there.

Some of them have a legitimate chance to win a fulltime job. Theres 4 forward spots open (if we carry 7dman and 2 goalies - which isnt certain haha) and 2 will almost certainly goto Baertschi and Bouma.

That leaves 2 spots left, one of which could be a top 9 center ice postion. If not Galiardi can slot in as a center.

It will be interesting to see who wins the jobs...my bet Monahan and Horak.

1. He has played well.
2. They want him to get a longer taste of the pro experience so he knows exactly what it takes to get to that next level.
3. They see a great deal of potential in this kid even if many Keyboard Warriors do not.

Horak has to be the 4th line centre. Doesn't he? How can they trap him in the AHL? Give him a chance.

I'd love to see Ferland over Jackman. I know I'll get pole-axed for that statement. So be it. I also know he'd do better getting more minutes every evening in Abby, whilst racking up a major a week, which will be part of his role when he does get a call to the NHL. Inevitable, in my mind...

If Horak's turned into a wing, he's coming from the left, correct? Or is it the right. Can't remember. A 4th line of Horak/Bouma/Jackman might actually put some points on the board. Bouma's played centre and wing. Jackman and McGrattan will make the team for "grit". We all know this...

We still haven't considered moving assets for picks... Could still happen to free up space for some of the youngsters. Funny more than one here thought Hanowski wasn't very good. Could this be a sign all these prospects are potential busts? Byron included?? Not to be negative...